Lodgesen nodded, folded his thin frame into a chair. "I came out of
it. Don't know why. All of a sudden, I was back. Like waking up."
"Everything seems to happen suddenly on the USS Taurus," Beth said
lightly, "We're glad, Dick."
Things _did_ happen suddenly, Fred thought, too suddenly. I'd better
mull this one over.... He got painfully to his feet. "I've still got
some work to do before we land. Excuse me." Then, to Lodgesen: "Take it
easy. You've had a shock."
"So have you," the other replied with a wolflike grin, "and you may
have others in store."
Fred ignored the remark, limped away. But instinctive bells pealed
a warning, one he tried to rationalize away. He wasn't having much
success.
* * * * *
In his own cabin, Fred paced rapidly, ignoring the pain in his toe.
On the view-forward screen, Earth appeared as a sphere. They were
so close.... The view-aft screen showed nothing but the emptiness
of space. Lodgesen's miraculous recovery had shaken him. It didn't
add, and the last time something didn't add, there'd been trouble.
Incredible as it seemed, he wasn't really sure they'd lost the planet--
_You didn't. You led me to the population I wanted. I'm getting
closer._
Fred trembled, tried to collect himself to fight.
_You can't fight. You've lost already. Observe: even weak contact with
the mind of that other animal made it function normally. Soon I'll be
close enough to exert full control over the others again._
"What are you going to do?" Fred asked.
_Before I'm through, I shall convince all of the intelligences on your
dead planet to join me. They'll know it's a much better, richer world._
"But it isn't!" he almost shrieked. "You can't support that many
people."
_True. Many will die. And I'll be able to replenish the energy I've
used following you._
"The race will revert to savagery, possibly even lower, to the caves."
_That is not important, except that the life span will drop. This will
create more life force for me. You argue in my favor._
* * * * *
Fred was aware of an urgent knocking at the door. He opened it, found
Jo leaning weakly against the frame.
"Fred," the girl spoke slowly, "help me ... the nightmare's back ...
help all of us." She was crying, and her eyes were caves of dark
terror. He held her tightly, and she sagged against him. "I can't hold
out ... the others have gone under ... a miracle, Fred--"
_I'll take this one now; I am strong enough._
"... need a mir--" Jo stiffened, spoke firmly. "I'm going back to my
friends. If you're silly enough not to want New Earth, I can't help
you." She left, striding purposefully.
"Damn you. Damn you!" Fred's voice was hard, cold. Man, the artist,
and man, the hunter, stood helpless before this power. But man, the
toolmaker--he bent his environment. That was it! The different faces of
man, the ambivalent. That was it! The pieces were in place.
"Earth!" he called piercingly. "Earth, you are one like this other
planet. Help us!"
_Stop!_ The hated sound beat at him.